Getting it just right

Ben and John (Ben's offsider) are working the weekend before Christmas - trying to get as much done as possible before the holidays. They're installing the windows in our upstairs bedroom.

Pina has confessed she's very worried about so many windows in our bedroom.

Make sure you keep priv-at. OK . You no let anyone lookie.

There will be curtains ... as well as privacy screens .

Phew!

Mama Mia!!

Hmmmmm .... the architect checks out the progress....

And this is a new addition in our bedroom.

A day bed that will overlook the staircase.

Noice.

The perfect nook for a magazine and a coffee ...

or a glass of bubbles and a platter of strawberries (.... yes I am dreaming...)

But I'm getting in early to claiming the space.

Eliza says I'll have to fight her for it.

Our bedroom vista.

Windows with a real vista

Some of the windows have been installed now ...

The windows for the dining room are yet to come on site.

These will be 'framless butt jointed' .

Say no more!

Apparently James and Ben know what this means.

The glass sliding doors from the living room, which will open onto the deck, look amazing.

Our little patch of paradise is perfectly framed.

It's still hard to believe we're on the fringe of the city.

Da-Daaaa

The scaffolding is gone and the back of the house can be seen again.

We're still in a bit of shock really.

It's bloody huge.

Taking Shape 3

The renovation is really taking shape.

The roof is now on the back section of the house and the first floor walls in the photo above will be clad with ripple iron this week.

The plumber is hard at work finishing the downpipes, the gutters and flashings.

In the frame

John was at the house today (working on a Sunday) sawing lengths of timber.
The frame for the internal walls on the first floor is coming along.

From this picture you can see the the frame for the ensuite, toilet and hallway leading to the studio in the roof space.

We're on target for lock up before Christmas.

It's starting to take shape and I can now visualise the spaces ... the rooms ... and how it will look in a few months with paint, carpet, windows, curtains and furniture.

View from on high

The roof is on .... and the scaffolding is up .... and I've been upstairs!
I gingerly climbed the rungs ...
slowly, slowly ....

going higher

and higher....



I made it to the top and stood in our new bedroom for the first time.

The view across our back garden and up the course of the creek is delightful ...

You really do feel like you're in the tree tops.

Curves in the sky

While the back of the house curves beautifully ...

... the view from the front, with the studio popping up doesn't give any hint of what lies beyond

SURPRISE!

Wow

I promised pictures and here they are ...
The curvy steel beams are in place and they look amazing!

Our bedroom is the room stretching across the back of the house ... high in the sky.

The house has such a lyrical feel to it. James is delighted with his creation and I'm constantly surprised at how the lines on butterpaper translate into reality.

When I saw the house this week ... it took my breath away. More beautiful than I expected.

I don't know how he did it but Ben hoisted those roof beams into place by himself. Alfredo told me "Ben work like animal this week. I give him a beer when he knock off. I give him 2 !"

Ben says the house should be at lock up stage in two weeks ...

But wait ... there's more

James and Eliza visited the house today.
They climbed the ladder and looked out over the creek. Marvellous!
What's really exciting is that the roof beams are in ... and the curvy pieces of steel have been craned into place.
Stunning!
Really soft and beautiful ... and so different from other renovated boxes .
Pics to come .... on Sunday.
Exciting.

Ben's Beautiful Salami

Well .... Ben's salami was worth the wait.
It was tasty and spicy (but not too hot) and very, very moreish!
I tossed it through pasta, with ripe tomatoes and freshly torn basil.
Heaven.
I'll slice some tonight before dinner to have with a glass of red wine.
Thanks Ben.
Great builder.
Great salami maker.

Bearing Fruit

Melbourne got a huge dump of rain yesterday. We copped everything actually - rain, a bit of hail, freezing winds and a return to winter for at least 24 hours!

The rain was very welcome! Our garden was in desperate need of a good soaking cause the summer fruit is on the way. We've got fruit salad in the making! White nectarines (above), apricots and pink lady apples below.

First Floor ...

There's more to see every time we visit our house. This week Ben has been working on the first floor - continuing to frame the upper floor rooms ie - our bedroom, bathroom, toilet and the studio.

In this picture (above) have a look at the main beam. This will be a wall of opaque glass - separating our bedroom from the en suite bathroom. Uber groovy baby!

James says it's possible the new roof over this back section will go on next week and the final upper floor structure will be installed. Bring on the stairs so I can have a look.

Neighbours ...everybody loves good neighbours ...

We dropped in to see Pina and Alfredo this morning for a quick hi and a coffee .... we left about 3 hours later after being plied with pasta (primo), chicken (secondi), vino (homemade by Alfedo - too sweet he says. Grapes very dry from the drought!) ... and yes, coffee and Italian biscuits.

We ventured into the back garden ... Don't you love every container filled with lettuce, tomatoes, herbs, chilli, celery, endive, onions ... the makings of many, many meals in summer.

Don't forget the grapes ... the vines look good and fruit plentiful. Alfredo will net this soon too keep the fruit bats and the birds away. He's gotta protect next year's vino!

On a promise

We're on a promise.
Ben has promised to give us some of his homemade salami.
The time has come!
Pino and Alfredo are all praise for the stuff ...
And this week we'll get to try some too!
Ben cures his own prosciutto too ... but there's be no promise made about that .... YET!!!

Reach for the sky

Our house is reaching for the sky...
Ben is framing up the walls for our bedroom on the first floor.

This picture shows the corridor which separates the ensuite and toilet (yes, I insisted they be separate!) and will lead to the studio space in the roof.

The walls set the template for the fall of the roof - so the roof beams can be placed accurately (James told me that bit!) So this week Ben will be working on the framing for the upper floor roof.